Response for Mike

I use #3 Vandoren reeds, a selmer C* mouthpiece, and an accent alto sax.
-Tyler

Hey Neal!

Good to hear from you, how are you doing?

My setup is a Otto Link Metal 5* with a 3S Rico Jazz Select on alto, and a 6* with the same reed on tenor. I have been having some trouble with the strength of my reed, alot of air coming out and the tone being quiet buzzy. But i have found some excersises to relax my embouchure and this is just what i needed! Now i got the full tone i want to have in all registers. Playing on a small piece with hard reeds of course give you a focused sound, and to me, the fullest sound, which i appreciate. You will intonate a lot better with this setup too, or in other words don’t have to work so hard to be in tune. I dig Charlie Parker and Coltrane, who both had a focused sound, IMHO. There is a little bit more air in my tone on tenor, but nothing special, i like it. I am wondering if i should go to try a bigger facing on the alto maybe a 6* as on my tenor.

Hope this helps. You sometimes have to blow a bit more to get your sound out on a small piece, but i guess it could be the same if you have a opening which is too big for you.

Best Regards
David

I play a Hite Premier (preferred) or Selmer S80 C* (use a velcro strap for my preferred ligature) with a #3 reed on a Jupiter 767GL alto.  It’s not pro, but it’s free blowing and it sounds good.  I’m working on getting my Conn NWII alto playing, but the funds aren’t there right now.
-Mike

My set-up; Tenor sax Yanagisawa 991 with Theo Wanne Durga 8 with Bari hard plastic reed and Yanagisawa solid bronze plated 24 kt gold and Dejaques neck strap.
-Felipe

Hey Neal,

I use and experiment with a few mouthpieces. As you know, I play a Selmer Reference 54 Alto Sax and a Yamaha YAS-23. Both are great saxes. With mouthpieces, I usually use a Meyer 5, but I also use a metal Beechler 7. Both are highly recommended; especially the Meyer 5. That mouthpiece made my beginner YAS-23 sound like a professional sax. The Beechler 7 make the sax sounds brighter.

As for reeds, I definitely like the Rico #3 plastic coated reeds. Just the reeds itself make playing better and there is not much need for wetting. I definitely will not go back to anything else. Before, I played on Vandorens. The cane on those reeds are very good. The Ricos work well even with my beginner mouthpieces.

I have to go, but hope this answers your question. Catch you later!
-Manny

Hey Neal! I use a runyon #7 mouth piece and a 2-1/2 plastic coated rico reeds.
-Stefan

Hey neal
for my alto (which is the Yamaha custom Z )i use the jody jazz with the omega symbol on it. Its a number 7 , and i use plasticover number 3 1\2 but also 4
-Rick